Sam Granato on Energy & Oil

Increased liability for oil companies involved in disasters

Sam Granato called on his Republican opponent, Mike Lee, to support increased liability for oil companies whose activities lead to environmental disasters. "The BP oil spill has been and continues to be a tragedy for our country--not only environmentally
but economically as well. Another spill right here in Salt Lake City threatens our water supply. This is unacceptable. We must hold BP, Chevron, and other oil companies fully accountable for any damage their actions have caused," Granato said.

Mike
Lee recently said he would oppose any effort to raise the liability cap for oil companies above the current $75 million limit. When asked if his position meant that taxpayers would be on the hook to pay for any damage caused in excess of that figure,
Lee responded, "Well yeah, probably does."

Granato said he finds the idea of requiring negligent corporations to cover only a small portion of the damage they cause, while simultaneously shuffling the rest of the cost onto taxpayers to be shocking.